The Magic North. Finnish and Norwegian art around 1900

30 January 2015–16 May 2015

The National Gallery

The exhibition is the first to establish a dialogue between Norwegian and Finnish art. Historical and political parallels make the juxtaposition of turn-of-the-century art from Norway and Finland a pertinent theme. Cultural life in both countries was dominated by the yearning for national independence, and many artists of the period were inspired by local traditions. Symbolism was also of major importance in the arts in both nations. With a focus on common denominators such as Nordic mythology, a fascination for pristine nature and concern for the existential vulnerability of humankind, the exhibition reveals both thematic and stylistic similarities.